Themes Discussed:

1. HR Career Evolution: Maja shares her progression from HR Business Partner to a specialized L&D role and what drew her back to a focus on leadership development.
2. Global Leadership Development: Insights on how Nobia is developing global learning and leadership programs, balancing central and local needs across its diverse business units.
3. Transformation and Change Management: A key theme is the organizational shift from separate brands to a unified strategy, and the HR transformations required to support this.
4. Learning & Development Frameworks: Maja discusses the importance of building tailored learning solutions, differentiating between mandatory training, skill-building, and leadership awareness programs.
5. Challenges in L&D Implementation: The episode highlights the practical challenges of introducing learning programs in a company undergoing structural changes, while keeping them relevant to both production staff and senior leaders.

Key Takeaways:

• A flexible approach to career planning can open opportunities in HR, allowing professionals to move between specializations.
• Building effective global leadership programs requires an understanding of diverse local contexts and collaboration with HR teams across regions.
• Balancing the need for strategic leadership development while ensuring practical implementation on the ground is essential during times of organizational change.
• Leadership development should focus on practical, skill-based learning that aligns with the organization's strategic goals and employee needs.

Shownotes:

• [00:00] - Introduction: Host Kristoffer introduces Maja Vikström and sets the context for the episode, focusing on her role at Nobia and the broader topic of leadership and learning development within the organization.
• [01:05] - Maja’s Career Path: Maja shares her professional journey, detailing how she transitioned from an HR Business Partner (HRBP) role to specializing in Learning & Development (L&D).
• [02:52] - Specialized HR Support: Maja emphasizes the significance of having dedicated HR support and establishing a center of excellence to drive strategic HR initiatives.
• [05:39] - Nobia’s Transformation: The discussion shifts to Nobia’s ongoing transformation efforts and the accompanying HR challenges, such as adapting to new business models and managing organizational change.
• [07:25] - Leadership and Learning Programs: Maja outlines her approach to developing leadership and learning programs at Nobia, aiming to enhance employee capabilities and support the company’s strategic goals.
• [10:59] - Global vs. Local Needs: The conversation delves into the complexities of balancing diverse local requirements within a global framework, ensuring consistency while accommodating regional differences.
• [15:07] - Tailored Learning Solutions: Maja discusses the importance of creating customized learning solutions, with a particular focus on prioritizing leadership development to foster effective management practices.
• [22:48] - Leadership Program Differentiation: Maja explains the distinctions between different types of leadership programs—awareness, inspiration, and development—and how they are tailored to meet various leadership levels and needs.
• [33:39] - Impact of HR Initiatives: Reflecting on the challenges of measuring the impact of HR initiatives, Maja shares her insights on linking learning and development efforts to broader organizational performance.
• [45:52] - Future Challenges and Opportunities: The episode concludes with a look ahead at the future of leadership and learning development at Nobia, highlighting potential challenges and emerging opportunities in the evolving HR landscape.